We urge the Belmont community and Town Meeting Members to support retaining the name James P. “Skip” Viglirolo Rink for the town’s reconstructed skating facility. A special Town Meeting on July 23 will address this issue.
In January 2024, the Viglirolo family sent a proposal to the Select Board in accordance with the Naming Policy for Town Assets. The proposal was resubmitted in April and has not received an official response. Subsequently, at the May 12 Select Board meeting, Chair Dionne initiated proposed changes to the current naming policy, which, in her words, would “set the bar high” for having a building named for an individual. After numerous Select Board meetings with the naming policy undetermined, we solicited a Citizen Petition, certified with 258 petitioners, to retain the name. At the July 7 Select Board meeting, Dionne proposed a new clause to the policy that would require any new/reconstructed asset to be named for the town ONLY.*
Skip Viglirolo was a lifelong Belmont resident and dedicated nearly 100 years to the town. A proud graduate of Belmont schools, three-sport varsity athlete, Korean War veteran, devoted over 50 years to Belmont’s Parks and Recreation, volunteered extensively from coaching Belmont High School Hockey to championing the creation of Camp Willow, aka/SPORT, and launching the first recreation women’s hockey program.
In 1998, the Recreation Commission, in conjunction with the Selectmen, named the rink in his honor, recognizing his remarkable legacy. That name has stood for nearly 3 decades as a symbol of Belmont values: community, loyalty, and service.
We believe reaffirming Skip’s name is the right choice. How “high of a bar” does one need to meet?
Town Meeting members will be asked to vote on this matter. Please reach out to your Town Meeting members in support.
With gratitude,
The Viglirolo Family
*Editor’s Note: Select Board member Elizabeth Dionne proposed that in the event of complete reconstruction of a new building, the asset will be presumed to be named after the town. However, individuals can still proceed with the application process for naming the building after a particular individual. Select Board Chair Matt Taylor and Vice Chair Taylor Yates were not ready to consider the proposal until after the July 23 special Town Meeting.